Tyres can’t function without this critical raw material. Whether its natural or synthetic rubber you are interested in, articles bearing this tag feature this indispensable polymer.
Although just five per cent of cars in the UK are fitted with TPMS, this figure is set to rise dramatically when EU regulations on its mandatory fitment in all new cars come into force in 2014. Anticipating this wider adoption of TPMS, next year updated MoT regulations also take effect – under these regulations, a malfunctioning TPMS will warrant a fail.
In the third quarter of 2011 Polish tyre maker Debica S.A. reported sales of PLN 717 million (£138.6 million), a 38.9 per cent year-on-year increase. Operating profit in the July to September quarter rose 61.6 per cent year-on-year to PLN 59.9 million (£11.6 million) while net profit, at PLN 32.6 million (£6.3 million), was down 9.62 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2010.
Hong Kong-based, Bermuda-registered company Pearl River Tyre (Holdings) Limited, who is 70 per cent shareholder in the joint venture company Guangzhou Pearl River Rubber Tyre Ltd, has been told by its controlling shareholders that negotiations with a potential buyer have been terminated.
According to Continental, the harsh UK and Northern Ireland winters of recent times have brought about an increase in demand for truck winter tyres. To meet this higher demand, the tyre maker has added five new sizes to its Scandinavia 2 range of winter tyres for truck, bus and coach.
On 21 November, Hong Kong-based Bermuda corporation China Enterprises Limited announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its share in tyre maker Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company to a company called CZ Tire Holdings Limited. According to China Enterprises, CZ Tire Holdings will pay RMB 600,000,000 (£59.6 million) for the 26 per cent share in Hangzhou Zhongce.
At its ‘Rubber Days’ event held in Japan and South Korea during November, chemical company Lanxess reported it currently working on a feasibility study regarding switching production at its Triunfo site in Brazil from emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR), which is used in standard tyres to solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR). According to the German company, ESBR capacity at Triunfo is currently 110,000 tonnes per annum and a changeover to SSBR would “potentially require a medium-size, double-digit million euro investment.” A final decision on converting the Triunfo facility in order to supplement existing SSBR production in Cabo de Santo Agostinho (Brazil), Orange (USA) and Port Jérôme (France) will be made in mid-2012.
Malaysian news agency Bernama reports that Silverstone Bhd intends to begin exporting tyres to Brazil and Argentina early in 2012. Speaking with the agency at the launch of the company’s Atlantis V7 passenger car tyre, Silverstone CEO Paul Chan said the tyre maker, who was acquired by Toyo Tire & Rubber last year, expects to export more than 10,000 tyres per month to Brazil and Argentina.
India’s government is seeking proposals for divesting the Tyre Corporation of India Limited (TCIL) through an outright sale. In a document released through the Department of Disinvestment, a part of the country’s Ministry of Finance, the Indian government stated it has “decided to disinvest 100 per cent equity shareholding held by it in TCIL through outright sale” and reported that it “proposes to engage the services of an advisor to advise and manage the outright sale process successfully.” To achieve this divestment of its Rs 296.3 million (£3.3 million) equity in TCIL, the Indian government has called for tender submissions from merchant and investment bankers, consulting firms and financial institutions with experience in this type of transaction. The deadline for submissions is 12 December 2011.
On 18 November Goodyear Tire & Rubber held a topping ceremony for its new corporate and North American headquarters in Akron, Ohio, seven months to the day after its groundbreaking. A steel beam signed by hundreds of Goodyear’s Akron employees was put in place today as many of them, along with chairman and CEO Richard J. Kramer, watched the event live via video feed. The Goodyear blimp was also on hand to provide aerial coverage.
ATS Euromaster reports having won back a sole-supplier agreement with Scotland’s largest independent wine and spirit wholesaler, Wallaces Express, just six months after the account was passed to a local independent tyre dealer. The Irvine-based fleet, which operates 50 cars and 70 commercial vehicles, initially changed suppliers in an effort to trim its fleet operating costs, but the new provider apparently failed to meet its required service standards.
Toyo Tire & Rubber’s Nitto brand will appear in the popular automotive-based Facebook game Car Town thanks to a deal between Nitto Tire U.S.A. and Cie Games. The one-year part multiple phase integrated partnership gives Car Town players the chance to participate in Nitto-branded game missions featuring the company's new line of tyres, and will also offer new in-game activities, virtual items, community contests and giveaways.
Leading India tyre and rubber industry associations Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) and the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) have asked for immediate suspension of futures trading in rubber following allegations of speculation in the futures market playing havoc with physical markets.
Birmingham-based Dunlop Aircraft Tyres halted new and retread tyre production during the week commencing 15 November after identifying a “potentially sub-standard rubber” supply. According to the Birmingham Mail, managers at the Castle Bromwich plant suspended manufacturing for three days following a “potential issue” with the raw material.
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced its participation in Tokyo Motor Show 2011, which will run from 30 November to 11 December (open to the general public from 3 December), at Tokyo Big Sight in Koto-ku, Tokyo. Yokohama will present some of its ideas, technology and activities including the firm's BluEarth eco tyre. Not only the BluEarth branded tyre series will be on show, but also other tyres developed based on the BluEarth concept. The company's latest environmental technology will also be explained, including the "nano bland compound" containing orange oil and the Airtex Advanced liner, which can substantially mitigate natural air leakage.
For the 29th consecutive year, Yokohama Rubber will serve as sole tyre supplier for the Macau Grand Prix. This Formula 3 event, being held for the 58th time, gets underway tomorrow and runs until November 20. Yokohama will also again be the exclusive tyre supplier in the culminating event of 2011 FIA World Touring Car Championship, a race taking place in Macau in conjunction with the Macau Grand Prix. The weekend’s racing events will also include a touring car race for local drivers and a motorcycle race.
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